‘Tis the season for snow-kissed strolls, excessive window displays, overeating and watching a whole lot of Hallmark holiday movies (but maybe that’s just me?). If you do manage to make it to New York City for the holidays and can pry yourself away from all the shopping, a number of hotels and restaurants are putting on some great events. Check out these favorite finds of ours and make reservations pronto!
Ophelia
Want to feel like you’re in the Nutcracker but with fun drinks and delicious snacks? Look no further than Ophelia. Titled the “Snow Globe in the Sky”, you are actually meant to feel like you are in a jewelry box as the glass-enclosed rooftop lounge is over the top hung with garlands, thousands of crystals and sparkling snowflakes. It’s all suspended from the 17-feet-tall ceiling in the main bar and greenhouses. If you want to indulge in the view you can cozy up with a white sheepskin throw on one of the couches while feasting on charcuterie. I recommend sipping a Pain Killa (tequila, lemon, ginger and essence of mescal))to melt away holiday stress or The Flapper (Ketel One, DiSaronno, lemon, pineapple, raspberries, bitters and champagne). www.ophelianewyork.com
*The Snow Globe in the Sky will be available through February.
The Hoxton
Yurts are so 2018. Now it’s all about the glass cabin. And of course, The Hoxton, one of the trendiest hotels in Brooklyn, would be leading that trend. Following the success of last year’s pop-up “Domes,” the hotel has created beautiful glass cabins that are on a whole other level of “hygge” with cozy blankets, delicious treats and a table big enough for most of your friends (unless you’re one of those annoyingly popular people). The Winter Hideaways are also surrounded by a lot of Christmas trees making it an official winter wonderland.
The family-style menu offers three courses with the option for add-on experiences like a fondue set-up for six, a warm cookie plate, or a rotating selection of homemade pies (how about a S’mores pie?). Guests can also opt for cocktail pairings or flights provided by Maker’s Mark, Grand Marnier and St. Germain.
The Winter Hideaways dinner service is available seven days a week and for weekend brunch through December. Two of the three Hideaways seat groups of 6 – 8 people ($500 minimum spend), with the larger Hideaway seating 10-12 people ($750 minimum spend). www.thehoxton.com
*Reservations can be booked now via Resy.
Arthouse Hotel
This is the perfect venue for holiday movie lovers. The hotel brings your favorite holiday classic films to life with its Holiday Movie Revival pop-up, which runs through December. Window displays include Kevin McCallister’s home in Home Alone (precocious child with a violent streak not included) and the lamppost from Miracle on 34th Street (precocious skeptical child not included). You can even warm yourself by the fire, sip some egg nog and check out the burnt Christmas tree from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (babbling idiot father not included). Or just sip some punch from the Leg Lamp a la A Christmas Story. www.arthousehotelnyc.com
Arlo Soho
Arlo Soho is a great hotel year around and the holidays are no exception. Check out Harold’s, especially if you’re here Christmas week, as they’ll be offering a special menu on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The menu includes Tortellini Stew with butternut squash, kale, and navy beans and Potato Latkes with smoked salmon, apples and creme fraiche as well as a festive pecan-crusted Christmas Duck a l’Orange with wild rice and an Herb Crusted Prime Rib au jus, with roasted cipollini onions and Parker House rolls. This is even better than the feast Scrooge gave once he realized it wasn’t cool to be a jerk anymore.
If you want to go all out, choose to have your Christmas dinner in the cozy cedar cabins, which are part of Arlo’s winter installation “Après Arlo”. If you’re less inclined to feeling like you’re in a snow globe and more into a French Alps feeling you’ll love these heated cabins decked out in winter finery and set against a backdrop of white birch trees, twinkling lights and “snow” in the courtyard. A full hot toddy menu is available, including the “Top of the Mountain Toddy” with whiskey, caramel, and apple cider, or the Chai Chalet Toddy with cognac, cranberry, vanilla and chai tea. www.arlohotels.com
*Après Arlo can be experienced Dec. 3 through March 15.
The Box House Hotel
Now, if you really want to feel like you are IN a Hallmark Holiday movie (but one of the better ones they save for Candace Cameron), then get yourself a suite at one of The Box House Hotel Group properties including The Box House Hotel, Franklin Guesthouse and Henry Norman Hotel. Choose the “The Ultimate Holiday in Brooklyn” package at any of them and you get an awesome suite with festive décor and options like a small or large pre-decorated Christmas tree with custom ornaments and complimentary hot chocolate. www.theboxhousehotel.com
The Modern
It wouldn’t be the holidays without a super unhealthy, guilt-inducing drink now would it? And there’s no better place to order that quintessential Egg Nog then The Modern. Created by Bar Director Patrick Smith, how’s this for a list of ingredients: Bertoux Brandy, Appleton Rum, Dalmore 12 Scotch, Gonzalez Byass “Alfonso” Oloroso Sherry, Giffard Vanilla Liqueur, demerara sugar and house made crème anglaise? And why not garnish it with a house made gingerbread cookie? It has a wonderful citrus zing to it, not to mention a helluva lot of booze! The Modern has been making this power nog for years but this year they went one further with the extra-aged Bertoux, a fine new California brandy made in the Solera style (like in Spain) and aged three to seven years in French and American oak. Have two! www.themodernnyc.com
ASSET Restaurant
If it’s a delicious Christmas dinner you’re craving or just a boozy brunch then ASSET, the newly opened “New American” restaurant on the Upper West Side, is your go to. Their $75 per person pre-fixe Christmas Day menu served from 1 to 9 pm, has a twist. For dinner, guests can indulge in classics like Prime Rib and Stuffed Lobster or stray from the usual with Asian selections such as Spare Ribs, Duck and Lo Mein. Brunch items include Brisket Hash, Avocado Toast and Chicken and Waffles.
And for those wanting to enjoy, shall we say, a more liquid meal, choose from a menu of hand-crafted cocktails designed by ASSET’s beverage director, Brandon Lester and the team at Liquor Lab. Try the Sunglasses and Advil (Diplomatico Rum, Pineapple, Orange, Cream of Coconut and Nutmeg) or the Smash-N-Dash (Jack Daniels, Espresso, Cola and Cherry). www.assetrestaurant.com
